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F>RICE 15 CeiSTS 



PS 3513 
.R692 
H4 
1918 
Copy 1 



MOM 



1 



Her Service Fl 




Successful Rural Plays 

A Strong List From Which to Select Your 
Next Play 

FARM FOLKS. A Rural Play in Four Acts, by Arthur 
Lewis Tubes. For five male and six female characters. Time 
of playing, two hours and a half. One simple exterior, two 
easy interior scenes. Costumes, modern. Flora Goodwin, a 
farmer's daughter, is engaged to Philip Burleigh, a young New 
Yorker. Philip's mother wants him to marry a "society woman, 
and by falsehoods makes Flora believe Philip does not love her. 
Dave Weston, who wants Flora himself, helps the deception by 
intercepting a letter from Philip to Flora. She agrees to marry 
Dave, but on the eve of their marriage Dave confesses, Philip 
learns the truth, and he and Flora are reunited. It is a simple 
plot, but full of speeches and situations that sway an audience 
alternately to tears and to laughter. Price, 25 cents. 

HOME TIES. A Rural Play in Four Acts, by Arthur 
Lewis Tubes. Characters, four male, five female. Plays two 
hours and a half. Scene, a simple interior — same for all four 
acts. , Costumes, modern. One of the strongest plays Mr. Tubbs 
has written. Martin Winn's wife left him when his daughter 
Ruth was a baby. Harold Vincent, the nephew and adopted son 
of the man who has wronged Martin, makes love to Ruth Winn. 
She is also loved by Len Everett, a prosperous young farmer. 
When Martin discovers who Harold is, he orders him to leave 
Ruth. Harold, who does not love sincerely, yields. Ruth dis- 
covers she loves Len, but thinks she has lost him also. Then 
he comes back, and Ruth finds her happiness. Price 25 cents. 

THE OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME. A New 

England Drama in Three Acts, by Frank Dumont. For seven 
males and four females. Time, two hours and a half. Costumes, 
modern. A play with a strong heart interest and pathos, yet rich 
in humor. Easy to act and very effective. A rural drama of 
the "Old Homstead" and "Way Down East" type. Two ex- 
terior scenes, one interior, all easy to set. Full of strong sit- 
uations and delightfully humorous passages. The kind of a play 
everybody vuiderstands and likes. Price, 25 cents. 

THE OLD DAIRY HOMESTEAD. A Rural Comedy 
in Three Acts, by Frank Dumont. For five males and four 
females. Time, two hours. Rural costumes. Scenes rural ex- 
terior and interior. An adventurer obtains a large sum of money 
from -a farm house through the intimidation of the farmer's 
niece, whose husband he claims to be. Her escapes from the 
wiles of the villain and his female accomplice are both starting 
and novel. Price, 15 cents. 

A WHITE MOUNTAIN BOY. A Strong T^Ielodrama in 
Five Acts, by Charles Townsend. For seven males and four 
females, an.d three supers. Time, two hours and twenty minutes. 
One exterior, three interiors. Costumes easy. The hero, a 
country lad, twice saves the life of a banker's daughter, which 
results in their betrothal. A scoundrelly clerk has the bankef 
in his power, but the White Mountain boy finds a way to check- 
mate his schemes, saves the banker, and wins the girl. Price 
15 cents. 

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

PHILADELPHIA 



Her Service Flag 



A Play in One Act 



By 

HELEN SHERMAN GRIFFITH 




PHILADELPHIA 

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

I 9 I 8 






% 



Copyright 1918 by The Penn Publishing Company 



JAN iOI9;9 

^^^'0 5U974 

Her Service Flag 



I 



Her Service Flag 



CHARACTERS 

Mrs. Reynolds - - whose stepson has left town under 

a cloud three years before. 

M «; T VT n i" ' ^^^^ neighbors and intimate friends. 
Susie the maid, an old family retainer. 

Time of Playing. — Forty-five minutes. 



STORY OF THE PLAY 

Mrs. Reynolds, whose stepson has disappeared three 
years ago, grieves that she has no son to give to her 
country. Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor, both of whom 
have dear ones " doing their bit," call and sympathize 
with Mrs. Reynolds. She has secretly bought a one- 
star service flag, in a vague way feeling that it will 
help her to feel as do the women who have sons in the 
service, and is very confused when it is discovered. 
" I — I bought it to — to — give to you, Susie." Susie's 
postman goes to war and Susie is broken-hearted. 
And then comes Mrs. Reynolds' big moment, for a 
letter arrives telling her that the errant stepson has 
died in France a hero — fighting for his country. And 
so she is entitled to her service flag, and Susie caps 
the climax — " Glory be to Heaven, ma'am, we're in it 
at last!" 



COSTUMES, ETC. 

Mrs. Reynolds. About forty. On her entrance 
she wears a dark suit and hat and carries a shopping 
bag and a small parcel. She changes to a simple 
house dress. 

Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor. About forty and 
forty-two, respectively. They wear street costumes 
and carry knitting bags. 

Susie. About thirty. She wears a plain dark 
dress and a white apron. 



PROPERTIES 



For Susie : An unopened letter. A number of un- 
opened letters and a small package, containing a gold 
watch, a photograph case, a few letters and another 
small packet. This contains a medal supposed to be 
the Croix de Guerre. Handkerchief. Tea tray, with 
tea, cups, corn bread, sugar, etc. 

For Mrs. Reynolds : Shopping bag. Small parcel. 
Half knitted sock. Service flag with one star. Two 
parcels. 

For Mrs. Keith : Knitting. Handkerchief. Letter 
(opened). 

For Mrs. Taylor: Knitting. Two opened letters. 

Other Properties : Clock. Victrola to play a lively 
march ofif stage. Bell to ring off stage. Large bundle 
containing knitted sweaters and socks. 



SCENE PLOT 



~o 



CHAIfK 




CHAIR v*— ^ CMAIH 
CHAin r\ TA3L£ 




Scene. — Parlor in Mrs. Reynolds' home. Door up 
c. to hall, which is supposed to lead r. to front door, 
and L. to kitchen. Door l. to bedrooms, etc. Window 
at R. Chair against wall of hallway, opposite door, up 
c. Table against wall up r. Mantel or bookcase 
with mirror and clock, up l. Table at c. with two 
easy chairs to R. of it, and another at l. Tabouret L. 



Her Service Flag 



SCENE. — Mrs. Reynolds' parlor, comfortably but 
old-fashionedly furnished. If possible have open 
doorway at back so that a glimpse may be had of 
hall behind. 

{Curtain rises disclosing empty stage. Bell rings. 
Susie passes from l. to r. through hall, by the parlor 
door; presumably opens front door.) 

Susie (heard at door). Oh, it's you, is it? I 
thought it didn't sound like the postman's ring. And 
where is our regular postman? What? Oh, takin' a 
day off? He's a lucky man. Wait a moment till I 
bring you a letter to mail. I'd have had it with me, if 
you'd rung twice. ( Susie passes and repasses through 
hall, carrying a letter in her hand on her return. 
Heard at door.) Oh, stop complainin'. I didn't keep 
you waitin' at all. You'd ought to be glad to do some- 
thin' fer the ladies. Yer young enough. Why aren't 
ye at a trainin' camp the day? Well, if ye haven't 
found any other uniform to wear between now an' the 
postman's next day off, mind ye give two sharp, short 
rings. Then I'll be after knowin' who 'tis. What? 
Oh, none of yer sauce, ye young slacker ! {Sound of 
door closing. Enter Susie up c, with a bundle of 
letters and smallish package, which she looks over 
before placing on table c.) Nothin' fer me, as usual. 
Siveral furrin ones fer the madam, but I reckon 
they're from her furrin soldiers. Nothin' at all like 
the handwritin' of Master Jack — bad cess to 'im. 
With a mother like her — even if she is a " step " — it 



8 HER SERVICE FLAG 

passes my understanding how a son couM go to the 
dogs like him. There's a bad streak in him some- 
wheres. Him as ought to be home, fightin' fer his 
mother an' his country, stid o' huntin' gold in Alaska 
or some other place off the globe, an' never writin* 

home these three years anything to speak of 

(Bell rings. Susie listens.) There's the madam 
now. That's her ring. 

(Exit Susie, c. Door heard to open.) 

Mrs. R. (heard without). Thanks, Susie. I am 
later than I meant to be. I don't suppose any one has 
come yet? 

(She enters as she speaks and comes down r., Susie 

following. ) 

Susie (affecting surprise). Oh, is somebody 
comin', ma'am? 

Mrs. R. (vexed). You know that Mrs. Keith and 
Mrs. Taylor are coming over for tea. I told you, the 
first thing this morning. 

Susie (severely). I know you mentioned it, 
ma'am, but as you hadn't ordered anything special for 
tea 

Mrs. R. (sighing). We can't have anything " spe- 
cial," Susie, for a long, long time. We are at war, 
you know, and must conserve food. 

Susie (with a sniff, moving toward door). It don't 
help the soldiers in the trenches to starve ourselves 
out o' usefulness, if you'll excuse my sayin' so. Cook 
was sayin' only yesterday that she was quite gettin' 
her hand out — havin' no cakes 'r parrty dishes to 
cook. 

Mrs. R. Well, let her exercise her talents on some 
of the new recipes for corn-meal, then, Susie. 

Susie (contemptuously). Corn-meal, is it? 'Tis 
the stuff they feed to the hogs in Ireland. 

(Susie goes up c.) 

Mrs. R. (calling after her). Remember, Susie, hot 



HER SERVICE FLAG 9 

buttered corn bread and war cake for tea. Serve it 
about half an hour after the ladies come. 

Susie {who has paused in hall to take the order). 
Yes, ma'am — poor ladies. And I know they're both 
fond of good cookin'. 

{Exit Susie, through door c. and toward l. grum- 
bling. Mrs. Reynolds, with a sigh, goes to table c. 
She is dressed in street costume, and carries a shop- 
ping bag and small package. ) 

Mrs. R. {pushing aside things on table c, and in- 
cidentally covering the bundle of letters, to open her 
package there). I suppose I am an old fool, but I 
just couldn't get by that shop window without going 
in. {She opens the package and holds up a small 
service flag, with one star.) I have looked into that 
w^indow every time I've gone down-town, and this 
afternoon — well, I just went in and bought one. I 
don't want any one to know. {Glances apprehensively 
at the clock. ) They would think me gone clean dotty, 
having no one in the service. {Pause.) But I might 
have had the right to it — if only I had brought up 
Jack differently — I tried so hard ! Oh, if only I knew 
where he is now ! {She brushes away a tear and 
wraps up flag.) I did not know it was so late. I 
must change my dress before they come. Let me 
see — oh, I'll leave my knitting down here. 

{She takes a half knitted sock from her shopping bag, 
lays it on table c, and goes out l., carrying package 
with her. Slight pause. Bell heard. After slight 
interval Susie goes through hall, l. to R. Door is 
heard to open.) 

Susie {heard without). Come right in, ladies. 
Yes'm, Mrs. Reynolds is expectin' you. {Enter Susie 
up c, escorting Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor.) 
Shall I take your wraps, or will you step up-stairs ? 

Mrs. K. No, thank you, Susie. I don't believe it 
is formal enough for that. 



10 HER SERVICE FLAG 

Mrs. T. Just ourselves, Susie, to knit and gossip 
over news from the front. 

Mrs. K. (taking off her coat). I am going to take 
off my hat, too, it is so much more comfortable. 

Mrs. T. {following example). So shall I, though I 
don't knov^ w^hat my hair looks like. 

{They give their coats and hats to Susie, who lays 
them on a chair, and exits. Mrs. Keith and Mrs. 
Taylor enter parlor carrying large, handsome knit- 
ting bags. They both go to mirror over mantel- 
piece and arrange their hair.) 

Mrs. K. {seating herself in comfortable easy chair 
down R.). This room is always so comfortable and 
homelike. {Takes out her knitting.) 

Mrs. T. {seating herself in another large easy chair 
at R. of table, producing her knitting) . Isn't it ? And I 
could never understand what induced Jack to leave 
such a comfortable home, where his mother did every- 
thing for him. 

Mrs. K. {glancing toward door l. to make sure 
Mrs. Reynolds is not coming). That is just the 
trouble. His mother did too much for him. Effie 
Reynolds spoiled that boy until he believed nothing on 
earth was good enough for him. 

Mrs. T. {also glancing toward door l. and pushing 
her chair a little closer to Mrs. Keith's). I wonder 
if her " mothering " him so much did not have a good 
deal to do with it? He felt tied to her apron string — 
and so made a bolt. 

Mrs. K. May be so, but there must be something 
inherently bad in a boy to treat a mother as he has 
done his. 

]\Irs. T. But only a stepmother, after all. 

Mrs. K. {hitching her chair a bit closer). Then he 
ought to have felt his obligations the more. They do 
say {confidentially) that he had taken to drink, and 
gambled 

Mrs. T. {hitching her chair still closer and speaking 
softly). And worse! They tell dreadful tales about 
his doings in Alaska 



HER SERVICE FLAG II 

Mrs. K. And his mother here at home, grieving 
her heart out because he has not volunteered. What 
were some of the things you heard? Weie they as 
dreadful as Anne Pierson's story ? 

Mrs. T. I was up at Mary Horton's yesterday, and 
Louise Abbot was there. 

Mrs. K. a genuine gossip, if ever there was one. 
A story never loses at her hands. What did she have 
to say? 

Mrs. T. Why, it seems that Henry Abbot had just 
got back from a Western trip and they told him in 
Denver that about a year ago Jack was 

{Enter Mrs. Reynolds, l., a little breathless and still 
carrying her package. She is wearing a simple 
house dress. ) 

Mrs. R. How do you do, girls? Fm so sorry to 
have kept you waiting. I went down- town to do an 

errand and it took me longer than I expected. I 

{She shakes hands with each in turn, and discovers 
her package.) Oh, I did not mean to bring that down. 
I caught it up, thinking it was my knitting, but I re- 
member I left that down here. 

Mrs. K. Yes, I saw it there on the table. How 
fast you knit, Effie. 

Mrs. T. {admiringly). You hold the record in 
town, you know. 

Mrs. R. {tucking the package away hastily in the 
centre table drawer and taking up her sock). I want 
to do my bit. {Seats herself l. of table.) It is not 
much, I know, at best, but I give all I have to give. 
{There is an awkward little pause. Mrs. Keith and 
Mrs. Taylor glance consciously toward each other. 
Mrs. Reynolds drops her knitting and falls into short 
r every. As if to herself.) Have I given all I had to 
give? Was my bringing up entirely wrong, that he 
turned so away from love and duty? Ah me! 
{Comes to herself with a start, and turns to her guests, 
knitting rapidly, and speaking as if following her own 
line of thought.) After all, those lines of ^ Tennyson's 
are rather selfish, don't you think? I mean: * 



12 



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" Of all sad words of tongue or pen 
The saddest are these, ' it might have been/ " 

No cause w^as ever v^on by thinking of the might- 
have-beens, and I hope I shan't be that kind of a 
slacker. But there, I am grov^ing dreadfully preachy. 
What is the nev^s ? Have you had any letters ? 

{Looks from one to the other.) 

Mrs. K. {eagerly). Yes, a letter from Will. I got 
it from the postman on our v^ay here, and read it 
aloud to Harriet as v;^e v^alked along. Would you 
like to read it ? 

{She rummages in her hag for a letter.) 

Mrs. T. And I had one from Irene. She finds her 
canteen v^ork more absorbing every day. I think I 
have the letter w^ith me. The postman gets to our 
house very early, you know, but I intended to put 
it in my bag. 

{Searches in her knitting hag for letter.) 

Mrs. R. Then the foreign mail is in ? I had hoped 
for a letter or two myself. I am " fairy godmother " 
to several " Tommies " and Belgians, you know. They 
write very amusingly — and very sadly too, sometimes. 

Mrs. K. I dare say their letters give a truer state 
of affairs than those from our own boys. They would 
write more frankly. 

{Takes letter from her hag and hands it to Mrs. 

Reynolds. ) 

Mrs. R. {wistfully). Ah, but yours are from your 
own ! {Takes letter and reads.) 

Mrs. T. {at last finding tzvo letters in her hag). 
Here is Irene's letter — and one from Teddy at Camp 
Meade. I Hark, what is that? 

{A faint sound of music is heard. Susie appears at 
'the: door up c, flushed and excited.) 



HER SERVICE FLAG I3 

Susie. Oh, ma'am, some of the boys is marching 
away ! Go to the window, quick ! You'll see 'em. 

(Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor spring to their feet, 
dropping their knitting, and hurry to window r., 
Mrs. Reynolds last.) 

Mrs. R. Open the front door, Susie, so we can 
hear the music better. 

(£.ri/ Susie; sound of music becomes louder, gradu- 
ally dying away as band presumably passes. Mrs. 
Reynolds joins Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor at 
window, R.) 

Mrs. K. (zvaving her handkerchief excitedly). 
There they go ! Why, nobody said they were leaving 
to-day! 

Mrs. T. {waving hers). Nobody knows now when 
anybody's going until they go. {Peering out window.) 
There goes the butcher's boy. Mercy, who'll deliver 
our meat ? 

Mrs. K. {peering out). And Tim Mark, the black- 
smith's son 

Mrs. T. And Swansen's head clerk 

Mrs. K. And his bookkeeper 

Mrs. T. And there goes 

(Susie appears at the door, sobbing.) 
Mrs. R. Why, Susie, what's the matter? 

{She goes up c. to Susie. While they speak Mrs. 
Keith and Mrs. Taylor listen partly to what she 
says, and partly devote their attention to waving out 
the window, now and then surreptitiously wiping 

. away a tear.) 

Susie {dramatically.) Oh, ma'am, the postman's 
gone ! He's been an' gone an' enlisted, the black- 
guard, an' him over age ! Whatever'U I do without 
'im? 

Mrs. R. {coming away from zvindow). Why, 



14 HER SERVICE FLAG 

Susie, I didn't know you were interested in the post- 
man. 

Susie. It wasn't fer me to be showin' my feelin's, 
ma'am, on my sleeve. But I always went to the door 
prompt when he rang. It was myself that twitted him 
about not enlistin' fer the ould counthry, and now 
he's gone an' done it. Oh, lack-a-me ! 

Mrs. R. But you ought to feel proud, Susie, iij 
you have been the means of pointing out his duty to] 
him. 

Susie. Proud, would ye call it — to send me dearie 
to his death ? Oh, boo-hoo ! But I was mistrustin' 
somethin' of the kind had happened when the other 
imperdent feller come this afternoon. Oh me, oh 
me ! ( Weeps. ) 

Mrs. R. I am sorry for you, Susan, but it is the 
right thing, you know. You say the other postman 
came. Were there no letters for me? 

Susie (drying her eyes). Sure, ma'am, lots, there 
on the table, ma'am. I thought I mentioned it when ye 
come in. 

(Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor return to their chairs 
and pick up knitting, murmuring words of sympathy 
to Susie.) 

Mrs. R. (reseating herself l. of table). Bring us 
our tea now, Susie. 

Susie. Yes, ma'am. The world must be goin' on, 
I s'pose. 

(Exit Susie up c, blowing her nose.) 

Mrs. R. I am sure we shall all be glad of a cup of 
tea after that emotional scene. It must have brought 
back the day Will marched away, Alberta. Thank 
you for letting me see his letter. 

(She hands back letter to Mrs. Keith and they ex- 
change a smile of sympathy.) 

Mrs. T. (anxiously). I wonder when my Teddy 



HER SERVICE FLAG 1^ 

will have to go? It seems only a couple of years 
since he was toddling around with me. Oh, dear ! 

Mrs. K. (after slight pause). Did not Susie say 
you had some mail, Effie? Perhaps you have some 
interesting letters from abroad, after all. 

Mrs. R. Perhaps. But first we'll have tea and then 
I want to show you the socks and sweaters I have 
made for the Red Cross. They are to come for the 
package to-night. (Rising, Mrs. Reynolds fetches a 
large package from a table at the back of the room, and 
opens it on table c, disclosing a goodly array of 
sweaters and socks. She takes two small packages 
from the heap and hands one to each Mrs. Keith and 
Mrs. Taylor. Handing package to Mrs. Keith.) 
For Will. (Handing package to Mrs. Taylor.) And 
for Teddy, Harriet. I love to do them, and hope 
they will each have their pair a month from me until 
they march home from Berlin. 

(Enter Susie up c, red-eyed and catching her breath, 
after sobbing. She carries a laden tea tray which 
she sets on a low table or tabouret l. at Mrs. 
Reynolds' side.) 

Susie (severely, surveying tray). It appears to me 
there's a great sight of luxuries there, considerin' our 
boys that are starvin' in the trenches. 

Mrs. R. (smiling patiently, after scrutinizing tray). 
Only the " war dishes " I ordered, Susie. One can't 
let one's guests starve. (They all smile but Susie.) 
By the way, Susie, do you remember where you put my 
letters ? 

Susie. Right here, ma'am, on the trig table. (She 
goes c. and looks.) Why, they're gone. 

Mrs. R. (pouring tea and passing cups). I may 
have pushed them back when I opened the package. 
Look under the sweaters, Susie. 

(Mrs. Reynolds pours tea, asks "How many lumps? " 
and " Won't you have corn bread? " and so forth, 
the others helping themselves, while Susie searches 
table, puzzled.) 



i6 Her service flag 

Susie (at length). They was here. Mebbe you 
put 'em in the drawer, ma'am ? 

{She opens the table drawer. The parcel containing 
the service flag falls out and unrolls.) 

Mrs. K,) {together). Why, what is that? Whose 
Mrs. T. ) is it ? 

(Susie picks up the flag and holds it out. Mrs. 
Reynolds has had her hack to table. She looks 
over her shoidder and catches sight of flag.) 

Mrs. R. Oh— why— I— the truth is I bought it— 
this afternoon, to — to give — to give to you, Susie, for 
the postman. 

Susie. Sure, an' I've no right to it, ma'am. Yer 
just bein' charitable Hke, to make me feel better. 

Mrs. R. {insistently, taking the flag from Susie and 
holding it out to her again). But I want you to have 
it, Susie. 

Susie {backing away, her hands behind her back). 
But ye couldn't 'a' meant it fer me, ma'am. Why, ye 
wasn't after knowin' until 

Mrs. R. I must have had a psychological inspira- 
tion. 

Susie {staring). A what, ma'am? No'm, I'm 
sure not — the postman never did anything of the sort, 
either in secret or public. Besides, ye see, I never 
accepted 'im. Thank ye kindly, just the same, ma'am.. 
I'm sorry I can't find the letters. They was here. 

{She turns again to the table.) 

Mrs. R. {hastily folding up the flag and thrusting 
it into her work-bag) . Never mind the letters, Susie. 
I'll find them presently. 

Susie. Very well, ma'am. 

{Exit Susie. Ladies all drink tea.) 

Mrs. K. I think it very fine of the postman to 
volunteer, for he is over age. 



Her service elac tj 

Mrs. T. But he is a bachelor, with nobody depend- 
ent on him. 

Mrs. K. Except — perhaps Susie? 

Mrs. R. I don't know why Susie never accepted 
him if he proposed. She is old enough to know her 
own mind. I think I shall give her a sweater and 
pair of socks to send to him. I can soon make others 
for the Red Cross. (She sets dozvn her cup, rises and 
selects a sweater and pair of socks from the pile on 
table. Laying these aside she zvraps up the package 
and in so doing, pushes aside the papers that hid her 
letters. Taking them up.) Why, here are my letters ; 
quite a bunch of them. And a package. I wonder 
whom this can be from? 

{She returns to her seat with the packet.) 

Mrs. T. It is from abroad. Perhaps one of your 
** god children " has sent you a souvenir. 

Mrs. K. Wouldn't that be interesting ! The pack- 
age is too big to be one of those rings they carve out 
of pieces of shell. 

Mrs. R. {studying package). It might be a sou- 
venir. I have a letter from each of my soldiers. 
{Looks at packet more closely.) But the handwriting 
is different. Ah, here is another foreign letter, ad- 
dressed in the same hand. I wonder whom it can be 
from ? 

Mrs. K. Perhaps a friend of one of your proteges 
is writing? 

Mrs. T. But he would not be likely to send a 
present with the first letter. Suppose you open it, 
Effie. 

Mrs. R. Suppose I do. You are a regular " lady 
from Philadelphia," Harriet. {Laying the package 
on her knee, Mrs. Reynolds slowly opens the letter, 
Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor looking on interestedly. 
Mrs. Reynolds stares at letter, then turns it over to 
signature.) Why, it is from a perfect stranger — a 
Major Scott. Does either of you know him? 

Mrs. K. Never heard of him that I can remember. 

Mrs. T. Unless he was one of the men at the 



1 8 HER SERVICE FLAG 

Tip-Top Inn last summer? You remember what a 
number of military people there were. 

Mrs. R. I don't remember meeting any one of that 
name. Anyhow, why should he write to me ? 

Mrs. K: Perhaps he has something to do with the 
Red Cross, or Y. M. C. A., and is writing to thank you 
for all the wonderful knitting you have done. 

Mrs. R. {smiling and shaking her head). I am 
afraid such local fame as mine has never reached the 
high places. Let me see what he says. {She reads 
the letter aloud, and although her voice falters, and 
she pauses now and then, she never stops until the 
end. But during the reading her face takes on a 
change — becomes, as it were, glorified. Reading.) 
" Mrs. John Reynolds : — Dear Madam, — Two nights 
ago I was sent for by an officer of the Foreign Legion. ^jB. 
It seems that a man in his company — an American, ^^ 
bearing the name of Jack Reynolds, no address — had 
died from wounds received while performing an act of 
particular bravery. Before his death this man had 
sent for his officer, and asked him to communicate 
with you, at the address I use, and to forward to you 
a small packet that was in his kit, inscribed ' for 
mother.' I promised to give his last message, which 
the French officer had scribbled down at his dictation. 
It strikes me as a bit peculiar, and was naturally 
Greek to the Frenchman, but it may convey a meaning 
to you — unless the officer entirely misunderstood. 
The message, verbatim, reads : — ' Tell her I may not 
have lived according to Hoyle, but I have died as she 
would have me.' Of course we know no mother 
would have her son die — but I dare say you under- 
stand and can supply such words as the Frenchman 
may have failed to put down. I can only add that 
the_ officers of the Legion were most enthusiastic in 
their praise of the valor and daring of Private Jack 
Reynolds, and the regiment mourns the loss of a be- 
loved comrade. Trusting that the accompanying 
packet reaches you safely and in good condition, be- 
lieve me, Sincerely and sympathetically yours, 
Francis Scott, Major 253rd Infantry A. E. F., France." 



HER SERVICE FLAG I9 

(She folds the letter and sits gazing in a rapt silence.) 

Mrs. T. (softly, putting away her knitting). How 
beautiful ! 

Mrs. Y^. (following her example). How wonder- 
ful! 

Mrs. T. (rising). How happy you must be, Effie. 

Mrs. K. (rising). And how proud! He died a 
hero! (They both move toward door, up c.) 

Mrs. R. (solemnly). My poor boy is dead! 
(Pause.) But he died — fighting for his country! 
(Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Taylor tiptoe into hall and 
put on their wraps. Mrs. Reynolds does not seem to 
realize that they have gone. Repeating.) Fighting 
for his country ! He knew that was how I would 
have him die, when the end had to come. (She sits 
motionless a moment longer. Mrs. Keith and Mrs. 
Taylor, their zvraps on, watch from doorway. Susie 
appears; they whisper to her and point to Mrs. 
Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds slowly unwraps the 
packet and discloses a gold zvatch, a photograph case, 
a few letter's, and another small packet, the three 
women watching her from the hall. Mrs. Reynolds 
opens this packet and holds up a medal.) The Croix 
de Guerre! Oh, my boy, my precious boy! 

(Reverently she lifts the medal to her lips. The three 
watchers furtively brush away tears. Then rising, 
still holding the medal, Mrs. Reynolds takes the 
service flag out of her bag, and crossing to the 
window, she fastens it there. Mrs. Keith and 
Mrs. Taylor exeunt, on tiptoe.) 

Susie (fervently, dropping to her knees in door- 
way). Glory be to Heaven, ma'am, w^e're in it at last ! 



CURTAIN 



Unusually Good Entertainments 

Read One or More of These Before Deciding on 
Your Next Program 

GRADUATION DAY AT WOOD HILL SCHOOL. 

An Entertainment in Two Acts, by Ward Macauley. For six 
males and four females, with several minor parts. Time of 
playing, two hours. Modern costumes. Simple interior scenes; 
may be presented in a hall without scenery. The unusual com- 
bination of a real "entertainment," including music, recitations,' 
etc., with an interesting love story. The graduation exercise* 
^ include short speeches, recitations, songs, funny interruptions,* 
and a comical speech by a country school trustee. Price, IS 
cents. 

EXAMINATION DAY AT WOOD HILL SCHOOL. 

An Entertainment in One Act, by Ward Macauley. Eight maU 
and six female characters, with minor parts. Plays one hour. 
Scene, an easy interior, or may be given without scenery. Cos- 
tumes, modern. Miss Marks, the teacher, refuses to marry a 
trustee, who threatens to discharge her. The examination In- 
cludes recitations and songs, and brings out many funny answers 
to questions. At the close Robert Coleman, an old lover, claims 
the teacher. Very easy and very effective. Price, 15 cents. 

BACK TO THE COUNTRY STORE. A Rural Enter- 
tainment in Three Acts, by Ward Macauley. For four male 
and five female characters, with some supers. Time, two hours. 
Two scenes, both easy interiors. Can be played effectively with- 
out scenery. Costumes, modern. All the principal parts are 
sure hits. Quigley Higginbotham, known as "Quig," a clerk in 
a country store, aspires to be a great author or singer and 
decides to try his fortunes in New York. The last scene is in 
Quig's home. He returns a failure but is offered a partnership 
in the country store. He pops the question in the midst of a 
surprise party given in his honor. Easy to do and very funny. 
Price, 15 cents. 

THE DISTRICT CONVENTION. A Farcical Sketch 
in One Act, by Frank Dumont. For eleven males and one 
female, or twelve males. Any number of other parts or super- 
numeraries may be added. Plays forty-five minutes. No special 
^scenery is required, and the costumes and properties are all 
easy. The play shows an uproarious political nominating con» 
vention. The climax comes when a woman's rights cham- 
pion, captures the convention. There is a great chance to bur- 
lesque modern politics and to work in local gags. Every 
part will make a hit. Price, 15 cents. 

SI SLOCUM'S COUNTRY STORE. An Entertainment 
in One Act, by Frank Dumont. Eleven male and five female 
characters with supernumeraries. Several parts may be doubled. 
Plays one hour. Interior scene, or may be played without set 
scenery. Costumes, modern. The rehearsal for an entertain- 
ment in the village church gives plenty of opportunity for 
specialty work. A very jolly entertainment of the sort adapted 
to almost any place or occasion; Price, 15 cents. 

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

PHILADELPHIA 



Unusually Good Entertainments 

Read One or More of These Before Deciding on 
Your Next Program 

A SURPRISE PARTY AT BRINKLEY'S. An En- 
tertainment in One Scene, by Ward Macauley. Seven male and 
seven female characters. Interior scene, or may be given with- 
out scenery. Costumes, modern. Time, one hour. By the 
author of the popular successes, "Graduation Day at Wood Hill 
School," "Back to the Country Store," etc. The villagers have 
planned a birthday surprise party for Mary Brinkley, recently* 
graduated from college. They all join in jolly games, songs, 
conundrums, etc., and Mary becomes engaged, which Surprises 
the surprisers. The entertainment is a sure success. Price, 15 cents» 

JONES VS. JINKS. A Mock Trial in One Act, by 
Edward Mumford. Fifteen male and six female characters, with 
supernumeraries if desired. May be played all male. Many of the 
parts (members of the jury, etc.) are small. Scene, a simple 
interior ; may be played without scenery. Costumes, modern. 
Time of playing, one hour. This mock trial has many novel 
features, unusual characters and quick action. Nearly every 
character has a funny entrance and laughable lines. There are 
many rich parts, and fast fun throughout. Prire, 15 cents. 

THE SIGHT-SEEING CAR. A Comedy Sketch in One 
Act, by Ernest M. Gould, For seven males, -txA^o females, or 
may be all male. Parts may be doubled, with quick changes, so 
that four persons may play the sketch. Time, forty-five minutes. 
Simple street scene. Costumes, modern. The superintendent 
of a sight-seeing automobile engages two men to run the 
machine. A Jew, a farmer, a fat lady and other humorous 
characters give them all kinds of trouble. This is a regular gat- 
ling-gun stream of rollicking repartee. Price, 15 cents. 

THE CASE OF SMYTHE VS. SMITH. An Original 
Mock Trial in One Act, by Frank Dumont. Eighteen males 
and two females, or may be all male. Plays about one hour. 
Scene, a county courtroom ; requires no scenery ; may be played 
in an ordinary hall. Costumes, modern. This entertainment is 
nearly perfect of its kind, and a sure success. It can be easily 
produced in any place or on any occasion, and provides almost 
any number of good parts. Price, 15 cents, 

THE OLD MAIDS' ASSOCIATION. A Farcical Enter- 
tainment in One Act, by Louise Latham Wilson. For thirteen 
females and one male. The male part may be played by a 
female, and the number of characters increased to twenty or 
more. Time, forty minutes. The play requires neither scenery 
nor properties, and very little in the way of costumes. Can 
easily be prepared in one or two rehearsals. Price, 25 cents. 

BARGAIN DAY AT BLOOMSTEIN'S. A Farcical 
Entertainment in One Act, by Edward Mumford. For five males 
and ten females, with supers. Interior scene. Costumes, mod- 
ern. Time, thirty minutes. The characters and the situations 
which arise from their endeavors to buy and sell make rapid-fire 
fun from start to finish. Price, 15 cents. 

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

fHILADELPHIA 



Successful Plays for All Girls 

In Selecting Your Next Play Do Not Overlook This List 

YOUNG DOCTOR DEVINE. A Farce in Two Acts, 
by Mrs. E. J. H. Goodfellow. One of the most popular 
plays for girls. For nine female characters. Time in 
iSIaying, thirty minutes. Scenery, ordinary interior. Mod- 
ern costumes. Girls in a boarding-school, learning that a 
young doctor is coming to vaccinate all the pupils, eagerly con- 
sult each other as to the manner of fascinating the physician. 
When the doctor app.ears upon the scene the pupils discover that 
the physician is a female practitioner. Price, IS cents. 

SISTER MASONS. A Burlesque in One Act, by Frank 
DuMOXT. For eleven females. Time, thirty minutes. Costumes, 
fantastic gowns, or dominoes. Scene, interior. A grand expose 
of Masonry. Some women profess to learn the secrets of a 
Masonic lodge by hearing their husbands talk in their sleep, 
and they institute a similar organization. Price, 15 cents. 

A COMMANDING POSITION. A Farcical Enter- 
tamment, by Amelia San ford. For seven female char- 
acters and ten or more other ladies and children. Time, one 
hour. Costumes, modern. Scenes, easy interiors and one street 
scene._ Marian Young gets tired living with her aunt, Miss 
Skinflint. She decides to "attain a commanding position." 
Marian tries hospital nursing, college settlement work and 
school teaching, but decides to go back to housework. Price, 15 
cents. 

HOW A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET. A Comedy 
*in One Act, by Frank Dumont. For ten female characters. 
Time, half an hour. Scene, an easy interior. Costumes, modern. 
Mabel Sweetly has just become engaged to Harold, but it's "the 
deepest kind of a secret." Before announcing it they must win 
the approval of Harold's uncle, now in Europe, or lose a possible 
ten thousand a year. At a tea Mabel meets her dearest friend. 
Maude sees Mabel has a secret, she coaxes and Mabel tells her. 
But Maude lets out the secret in a few minutes to another 
friend and so the secret travels. Price, 15 cents. 

THE OXFORD AFFAIR. A Comedy in Three Acts, 
by Josephine H. Cobb and Jennie E. Paine. For eight female 
characters. Plays one hour and three-quarters. Scenes, inter- 
iors at a seaside hotel. Costumes, modern. The action of the 
play is located at a summer resort. Alice Graham, in order to 
chaperon herself, poses as a widow, and Miss Oxford first claims 
her as a sister-in-law, then denounces her. The onerous duties 
of Miss Oxford, who attempts to serve as chaperon to Miss 
Howe and Miss Ashton in the face of many obstacles, furnish 
an evening of rare enjoyment. Price 15 cents. 

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

PHILADELPHIA 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



The Power of E 




015 937 167 



Expression and efficiency go hand in ha 

The power of clear and forceful expression brings confi- 
dence and poise at all times— in private gatherings, in public 
discussion, in society, in business. 

It 'ij i*n invaluable asset to any man or woman. It can often 
be turned into money, but it is always a real joy. 

In learning to express thought, we learn to command 
thought itself, and thought is power. You can have this 
power if you will. 

Whoever has the power of clear expression is always sure 
of himself. 

The power of expression leads to: 

The ability to think "on your feet" 

Successful public speaking 

Effective recitals 

The mastery over other minds 

Social prominence 

Business success 

Efficiency in any undertaking 

Are these things worth while? 

They are all successfully taught at The National School of 
Elocution and Oratory, which during many years has de- 
veloped this power in hundreds of men and women. 

A catalogue giving full information as to how any of these 
accomplishments may be attained will be sent free on request. 

THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF 
ELOCUTION AND ORATORY 

17 14 De Lancey Street Philadelphia 



